Key Findings from Research: Passive Back-Support Exoskeletons Have Limited Benefits During Floor Tiling

Details

• Personal Author:
  Usmani, Ahmad R. ; Rajabi, Mohammad S. ; Ojelade, Aanuoluwapo ; Kim, Sunwook ; Harris-Adamson, Carisa ; Barr, Alan ; Nussbaum, Maury A.
• Corporate Authors:
  CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training
• Description:
  Back-support exoskeletons (BSEs) are designed to reduce the physical demands placed on the lower back during physically demanding tasks. However, BSE effectiveness for tasks involving extreme non-neutral postures-such as floor tiling-has largely been unexplored. To evaluate BSE effectiveness for floor tiling, researchers evaluated two commercially available passive BSEs, the HeroWear Apex (which uses elastic material to generate support) and Laevo Flex (which uses gas springs), using a convenience sample of 18 novice participants (nine males and nine females). Each participant completed floor tiling simulations in 12 experimental conditions: three levels of interventions (no device, HeroWear Apex, and Laevo Flex) × two tile sizes (large and small) × two task types (tiling and grouting). Participants first received training to familiarize themselves with the tiling and grouting processes, as well as with the BSEs being tested. The researchers then recorded muscle activity, task performance, and user perceptions across different conditions. Read the abstract: https://bit.ly/4psuISb. Description provided by NIOSH
• Subjects:
  • Construction
  • Ergonomics
  • Exoskeleton Device
  • Musculoskeletal System
  • Occupational Health
  • Safety
• Keywords:
  • Construction workers
  • Exoskeletons
  • Posture
  • Ergonomics
  • Tile workers
  • Muscle function
  • Robotics
• Series:
  CPWR - Center for Construction Research and Training Publications
• Subseries:
  Key Findings from Research
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Abstract
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Maryland ; New York ; New York City Region OSHA ; Philadelphia Region OSHA ; San Francisco Region OSHA ; Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1 pdf page
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071843
• Citation:
  Key findings from research. Silver Spring, MD: CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training, 2026 Mar; :1
• Email:
  nussbaum@vt.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2026
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction
• Performing Organization:
  CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, Maryland
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  2009/09/01
• End Date:
  2024/08/31
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/260065/cdc_260065_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 44.07 KB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c2bc5d4c62d27c7cb40a71ff7aedaabaf4b8d2ab967de594ceee8e55598bf456a1b382c36ab4138215bf304d1cc89425ea0df32d9cda9925b2fb2a2de6ef4e4e